Thursday, September 3, 2015

Along the Jack the Ripper Trails

An utter
fascination of mine, the mid-19th century mystery of Jack the Ripper, an unidentified serial killer believed to have
committed London's
most notorious unsolved murders. Ripper was believed to have committed the grotesque
murders of five prostitutes in the then impoverished area of Whitechapel
located in East London. The neighborhood was
crime-filled and heavily populated by eastern European Jewish refugees, as well
as Irish immigrants. A pub laden Commercial
Street was an invitation for sex-workers, believed
to be the main thoroughfare the victims traveled before their savagery deaths –
presumed to have been committed by Jack
the Ripper, also coined "the Whitechapel Murderer."

I began my
journey at the Whitechapel Underground (Tube) station, traveling east along Whitechapel Road, a
community densely populated by middle-eastern and muslin settlers with a host
of landmarks, which includes the RoyalLondonHospital,
East London Mosque and the London
AmbassadorCollege.
An unassuming gentleman directed me to the heart of the Whitechapel murders,
the epicenter of its history, a pub called the Ten Bells. A friendly bartender freely
provided information on the murders, highlighting the connection between the
Ten Bells and the notorious killings. I enjoyed a glass of white wine while I
documented details.

Annie
Chapman and Mary Jane Kelly, both Ripper's victims were said to have frequented
the Ten Bells. It is believed to be the last place they were both seen before
their gruesome deaths. A couple of murals depicting the mid-19th century
eccentric dressed prostitutes draped the walls of the Ten Bells, a distinctive
attraction for numerous curious onlookers who dipped in and out of the pub to
take photos and selfies for memorabilia.

Later, I
roamed the alleys where the canonical five were found dead. The experience was still
quite daunting even after two centuries. Unburdened by my 3.2 pound camera hanging
from my neck and my aching feet, I journeyed along my self-guided trails aided
by a detailed map.

There are
several Jack the Ripper nightly tours
in Whitechapel for as little as £10. Most originate from the Aldgate and
Liverpool Street Underground (Tube) station. However, there is a Free tour
(donations only) at 8pm from the Tower Hill Underground (Tube) station. Just
look for the tour guide with the orange umbrella when you exit the station. All
tours take you to the murder locations of the canonical five, including the
site where the first clue was discovered.

There are
a number of fascinating things to see and do in London. If the Whitechapel murders happen to
be one you fancy, an exhibit titled, Jack
the Ripper and the East End will be on display at the Museum of London
this Fall. Perhaps I may journey back to London
for its historic unveiling. Until then...Cheers.

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About Me

Professional writer, journalist, political satirist, and social commentator Denrique Preudhomme delivers writing appeal to a variety of readers.
She is the author of a book of thought-provoking social and political articles, The Undisguised Truth, a book of riveting short fiction, Stranger Than Fiction and a book of moving poems, Reflections of Realism. She is the recipient of the Urban Spectrum Newspaper National Writers Award, and is profiled in Marquis Who’s Who in America®. She is currently writing her next book, a thriller titled Deception is Reality.
Denrique is a foreign scholar in the field of Creative Arts and the owner of The Creative Writer, a professional writing services company based in Washington, DC.